Plumbing Estimation

Step into the role of a junior plumbing estimator tasked with preparing the bid for a brand-new home. Using a provided residential floor plan, students will locate fixtures, measure pipe runs, count fittings, and calculate material and labor costs — all while learning the core principles of residential plumbing.

This auto-graded, interactive lab makes plumbing estimation approachable for high school students by focusing on cold water supply and drainage in a simplified, real-world scenario. Perfect for Construction CTE programs, this lab blends blueprint reading, measurement skills, and cost estimation into one engaging activity.

Storyline

You’ve just joined a local construction company, and your first assignment is to prepare a plumbing estimate for a new single-family home. The project manager is counting on you to:

• Identify all plumbing fixtures on the floor plan
• Estimate the total length of supply and drain pipes
• Account for elbows, tees, couplings, and clean-outs
• Calculate material costs, labor costs, and the final project bid

Get it right, and you’ll prove you’re ready to handle bigger projects. Make mistakes, and your supervisor will be quick to point them out — just like in the real world.

What Students Will Learn

• How to read and interpret residential floor plans for plumbing layout
• Basics of pipe types and uses (PEX, PVC, copper, ABS)
• Pipe sizing requirements and how they relate to fixture demand
• The role of traps, shut-off valves, clean-outs, and venting in a plumbing system
• How to apply unit costs to create an accurate estimate

Unlike static worksheets, this lab is hands-on and visually engaging, showing students how math, measurement, and construction knowledge work together in a trade skill they can use. It connects classroom learning directly to real construction job tasks, building both confidence and career awareness.

Perfect For:

• High School CTE Construction Classes
• Intro to Plumbing Lessons
• Building Trades Programs
• Career Exploration Modules